"No matter who says what, you should accept it with a smile and do your own work."--Mother Teresa (attributed)

7/3/07

Mayor Fenty "hugging up" on white people

The Washington Post reports on criticism that DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has not selected enough black people to lead the city. This is the same charge that was leveled again former DC Mayor Anthony Williams.

"Since taking office six months ago, Fenty (D) has replaced African Americans with non-black people in four of the city's highest-profile jobs: city administrator, police chief, fire chief and schools chief. Among those who hold arguably the 10 most influential positions, five are white, three are of Asian descent and one is Latino. Only one -- Neil O. Albert, the deputy mayor for planning and economic development -- is black."In a city that is 57 percent black and has a predominantly black government workforce, the mayor's choices have not escaped criticism."

These are the money quotes:

"During the whole campaign, he was hugged-up on black people," said Michelle Erway, 26, a black federal government contractor from Northeast, whose 3-year-old son will enroll in a charter school this fall. "Now that he's in office, he's hugged-up on white people. I lost a lot of respect for him after he was elected."

*At Eaton's Barbershop on U Street NW, Troy M. Johnson, 72, who is black, said he's willing to give Rhee a chance. After all, he said, African Americans have been in charge of the system for so many years without success."I feel like African Americans had the school board all along," Johnson said. "Adrian Fenty is the best thing that has happened because this ain't no Chocolate City no damn more."